Cable spooling apparatus



P 29, 1954 F. LE BUS, SR 3,150,844

CABLE SPOOLING APPARATUS Original Filed Nov. 9, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet l Fig. 1

INVENTOR.

F L. LeBus, 5r:

ATTOQNEY 29, 1954 F. L. LE BUS, SR 3,150,844

CABLE SPOOLING APPARATUS Original Filed Nov. 9, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 INVENTOR.

A'LLeBus 5r:

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,ll),844 CABLE fiPGGLlNG APEARATUS Franklin L. Le inns, Sn, Longview, Tern, assignor to Lebus Royalty Company, Longview, Tern, a partnership Continuation of application Sci. No. 621,327, Nov. d, $56. This application Jan. 4, 1%3, Ser. N 249,453 4 Claims. (Cl. 242-417) This invention relates to improvements in hoisting apparatus, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to an improved hoisting drum or spool member for receiving cable, rope, electric lines, and the like. This application is a continuation of my presently pending application, Serial No. 621,327, filed November 9, 1956, now abandoned and entitled Cable Spooling Apparatus.

it common practice today to control the winding of a cable on a spool in a uniform manner to preclude the cable from fouling or becoming entangled and damaged, such as is disclosed in several of applicants prior patents, such as No. 2,620,996 issued on December 9, 1952, No. 2,732,150 issued on January 24, 1956, and No. 2,734,695 issued on February 14, 1956. As the cable, or the li e, is being wound onto the periphery of the spool or drum member, the cable usually moves in a continuous combined circumferential and longitudinal path on the spool and between the opposed end flange members thereof. The first layer of the cable on the drum extends from the inner face of one drum flange member into contact with the inner face of the opposed flange member. The first wrap of the second layer of cable is directed in a reverse helical path to cross over the last wrap of the first layer, and thus start the second layer in a direction toward the first or initial flange member. The second Wrap preferably lies in the groove formed between the wraps of the first layer and continues across the spool toward the first flange member. Each succeeding layer of cable is reversed in a similar manner to provide for the winding of the cable on the spool. it will be apparent that certain of the layers of cable will be in contact with the inner faces of the end flange members, usually the first layer, and every alternate layer thereafter.

The control of tie cable cross over portion during the reversing of the cable at the beginning of each succeed ing layer on the drum is of particular importance. It is desirable to maintain the cross over action at a definite poin on the circumference of the drum to assure an orderly winding of the cable, and to maintain balanced cable spooling. Any deviataion from the preferred path of the cable, particularly at the cross over section, is greatly multiplied upon each succeeding layer, and soon it will become substantially impossible to maintain an efficient control of the cross over action, thereby resulting in an unbalanced cable spooling.

The physical contact of the layers of cable engaging the inner faces of the end flange members of the spool, as hereinbefore set forth, is often detrimental. It will be apparent that the abrasive action between the cable and the end flange member over an extended period of usage of the spool will wear into the face of the flange and create circumferential Wear grooves or recesse therein. The wear groove will increase the overall width between the drum flanges which may have a detrimental effect on the overall cable spooling efficiency, in that the cable may ride in the wear groove to a point beyond the cross over zone before the cable is reversed for the next succeeding layer. Thus, the cross over action will become irregular and thus diillcult to maintain a proper'control of the cable. When the flange members have been worn to any appreciable degree, the entire drum must be repaired and the end flanges must be replaced.

The present invention contemplates an improved cable receiving drum or spool provided with opposed wear plate artisan beat. 29, Mid l members adjacent the inner faces of the end flange members, and adapted to preclude contact of the cable or line against the flanges. The wear plate, therefore, absorbs the rubbing or abrasive action of the cable during the spooling action, and proctccts the inner face of the flange members. When the wear plates become worn, or wear grooves begin to develop thereon, the plates may be easily and readily removed from the drum and repaired or replaced. The drum itself, and the flange members thereof, thus remain undamaged, thereby greatly reducing the maintenance cost and increasing the operating efiiciency thereof. The Wear plate members are relatively inexpensive, and therefore. substantially expendable. Thus, replacement thereof is considerably less costly than repair or replacement of the spool or liange members.

it is an important object of this invention to provide an improved drum member for winding steel cable or rope thereon, wherein the cross over zone is maintained at substantially the same point on the circumference of the drum to provide for an efiicient control of the cable winding.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved spool member for winding cable, and the like, wherein the overall length of the spool between the end flange members may be maintained substanatially constant.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved cable winding drum wherein the constant abrasive or rubbing action of the cable adjacent the end flange members is eliminated, thereby greatly prolonging the useful and efficient life of the drum.

And still another of this invention is to provide wear plate members adjacent the inner face of the end flange members of a cable spooiing drum for absorbing the abrasive action of the cable during the sped-ling operation, thereby protecting the flange members from damage therefrom.

It is still another object of this invention to provide removable wear plate members adjacent the inner face of the end flange members and which may be easily replaced when the abrasive action of the cable has caused damage thereto.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a cable winding drum which is simple and economical in operation and eflicicnt and durable in construction.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an evolved plan view of a cable winding drum embodying the invention and illustrates schematic ally the arrangement of the drum.

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the novel drum prior to machining cable receiving grooves on the drum core.

FEGURE 3 is a View similar to l lG. 2 with circumferential grooves machined on the drum core adjacent the opposed end flange members.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 and depicts the cable receiving grooves provided on the drum core.

FEGURE 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 having wear plate members provided adjacent the end flange members.

FEGURE 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 and showing the end filler members secured to the wear la;e members.

FEGURE 7 is an enlarged view similar to PEG. 6 and with the drum rotated at approximately ninety degrees.

FlGURE 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 illustrating a pluralit of layers of cable in cross section wound on the core of the drum and depicting the wear grooves on the wear plate members.

FEGURE 9 is an exploded perspective view of the in resses side surface of a flange member and a segmental wear plate member.

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference character It refers in general to a cable winding drum comprising a core member 12 and a pair of opposed end flange members 14 and 16 secured thereto. As seen in FIG. 2, the core 12 is usually provided with a relatively smooth outer periphery prior to the preparation of the core for receiving the cable or wire rope 18 (FIG. 8). A pair of spaced circumferential grooves 28 and 22 are preferably cut or suitably machined on the opposite ends of the core 12 and adjacent the flange members 14 and 16, respectively, as shown in FIG. 3. The outer periphery of the intermediate core 12 may then be machined, or provided with suitable cable receiving grooves 24. It will be apparent that the invention is not limited to machined grooves on the outer periphery of the drum, but suitable grooved bars, such as is disclosed in applicants prior patents heretofore mentioned, may be secured to the outer periphery of the drum for supporting the cable.

. The cable receiving grooves 24 preferably comprise a groove extending across the core 12 from the recess or groove 20 to the groove 22, as clearly depicted in FIGS.

4 through 8, and as will be hereinafter set forth in detail.

After the machining of the cable grooves 24 on the periphery of the core 12, a pair of substantially annular wear plate members 26 and 28 are disposed in the grooves 20 and 22, respectively. The wear plates 26 and 28 are preferably rigidly secured to the flange members 14 and 16, respectively, in any suitable manner, such as the bolt members 39, or the like. It will be apparent that each of the wear plate members comprises a plurality of circular or arcuate sections, and are preferably constructed in two semi-circular half sections 23 and as shown in FIGURE 9 for disposition around the drum which may be easily disposed within the grooves 20 and 22 to provide a continuous annular plate member around the core 12 and adjacent the flange members 14 and 16. In this manner, the cable 18 will be brought into contact with the wear plates 25 and 28 instead of the flange members 14 and 16 upon winding of the cable on the drum It? in a plurality of super-imposed layers as will be hereinafter set forth.

Referring now to FIG. 1, it will be noted that the cable grooves 24 provided on the drum preferably extend around the circumference of the core 12 in two separate sets A and B of parallel grooves, wherein groove set A is separated from set B by the two different sets of helical grooves 'C disposed substantially diametrically opposite to each other and providing two separate control or pitch areas respectively. The disposition of the helical grooves C relative tothe parallel grooves A and B is dependent upon the oppositely disposed control bars or end fillers 32 and 34 disposed adjacent the inner surface of the wear plates 26- and 28, respectively. The control bars 32 and 34 are also depicted in F168. 6, 7 and 8. Each of the bars is provided with a tapered end portion 36 conforming substantially to the taper of the helix or control Zone C of the grooves 24. The end fillers or control bars 32 and 34 may be welded, or the like, to the wear plate members 26 and 23 or may be cast integral therewith. It will be apparent, however,

that these control members may be removably secured thereto if desired, It is preferabe to position the control bar members 32 and 34 is such a manner that the tapered portions 36 are in alignment with one of the control zones C, as clearly shown in FIGS, 6, 7 and 8, in order to facilitate winding of the cable on the drum 10, as will be hereinafter set forth.

The control filler members 32 and 34 are further provided with an enlarged end portion 38 spaced from the tapered end portion 36. The enlarged portion 38 is provided with a tapered portion 4ti'which substantially conforms to the second of the control zones C for facilitating the reversing of the cable 18 asitis wound onto the drum 10. It will be noted in FIG. 6 that it is preferable to position the control bars 32 and 34 with respect to the core 12 in such a manner that the tapered end portion 36 of the control member 34 will be disposed substantially opposite the tapered portion 443 of the control member 32, and similarly the tapered end portion of the control member 32 will be in substantial alignment with the tapered portion 40 of the control member 34.

One of the enlarged end members 38, such as shown on the control bars 34, is preferably provided with a cutaway portion or arcuate recess 42, shown in dotted lines, in alignment with a suitable aperture 44 provided through the wear plate 28 and a portion of the end flange 16 (FIGS. 7 and 8). The aperture 44 is provided for receiving the free end of the cable 18, as will be hereinafter set forth. The arcuate recess 42 functions to direct the cable 18 into the first groove 24 upon the initial winding of the cable onto the drum 10.

Operation The cable 18 to be wound on the drum 10 may be initially started in the grooves 24 adjacent the wear plate 28, as shown herein, but is not limited thereto. The free end (not shown) of the cable 18 may be inserted through the aperture 44 in the usual manner, and suitably anchored (not shown) for maintaining the cable in contact with the drum it). The recess 42 will direct the cable 18 into the first of the grooves 24 adjacent the wear plate 23 upon rotation of the drum 10 about its longitudinal axis. As the drum It continues to rotate, the cable 18 will move along the periphery of the core 12 and is preferably disposed within the cable receiving grooves 24. The tapered portions 36 and 40 of the control bar 34 cooperate with the control zones C to facilitate the cross over of the cable 18 from the first of the grooves 24 into the second of the grooves at the start of the first layer of the cable. It will be apparent that the succeeding wraps of the first layer of cable will be moved through the cross over zone by the physical contact of the oncoming cable with the previously wound wrap. Upon continued spooling as the cable 18 approaches the wear plate 26, the last wrap of the first layer will come into contact with the control end filler 32 and the diametrically disposed tapered portions 36 and 40 thereof. The tapered surfaces 36 and 4t) will urge the oncoming cable in a reverse direction to start the first wrap of the second layer of cable in a reverse helical direction toward the wear plate 28. The initial layers of the cable facilitate the reversing of each succeeding layer of cable so that the cable 18 may be spooled onto the drum 1* in a pyramid manner, as clearly shown in FIG. 8.

It will be seen in FIG. 8, that certain of the layers of the cable 18 wound onto the drum 10 are disposed in physical contact with the wear plates 26 and 28. During extended periods of usage, the abrasive action of the cable 18 rubbing against the surface of the wear plates 26 and 23 will cause or form circumferential wear grooves such as 46 and 48, respectively, therein. After considerable usage of the drum 1% the wear grooves 46 and 48 become enlarged to such an extent that the overall Width between the wear plates 26 and 28 is substantially increased. As hereinbefore set forth, the cable 18 may ride in the wear groove to a point on the drumcircumference beyond the pre-determined control Zones C before the cable is urged in a reverse direction for starting a new layer of cable on the core 12. It will thus be seen that this wouldtend to cause an ineficient spooling of the initial layers of the cable, thereby having considerable detrimental aspects for spooling the additional layers of cable on the drum.

The deviation from the control Zone will normally be exaggerated with each succeeding layer of cable '18 until will usually result in an uncontrolled winding of the E1 cable on the drum and destroy the efficiency of the entire cable spooling operation. It will be apparent that the sectional Wear plates 26 and 28 may be readily removed from the end flanges 14 and 16 as soon as the wear thereof is noticeable or approaches a detrimental condition. The wear plates may be repaired in any suitable manner, or may be entirely replaced, as desired. Any damage to the control bars or filler members 32 and 34 may be repaired when the wear plates are being repaired or replaced.

The repaired or replaced wear plates may be installed on the drum Jill in the manner as set forth hereinbefore to maintain the desired spooling efficiency. It will be apparent that the wear plates absorb Wear from the cable for protection of the end flanges 14 and 16 in a manner to preclude any unusual wear therein which would be detrimental to the overall drum efficiency. The wear plates 26 and 2d are relatively inexpensive, and thus provide a longer useful life for the drum and substantially reduce the cost of maintenance thereof.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention provides an improved cable Winding drum or spool wherein the wear, particularly on the end flange members, is substantially reduced. Sectional wear plate members are provided adjacent the inner faces of the opposed end flange members for absorbing the abrasive or rubbing action of the cable, and protect the surfaces of the flange members. Thus, the overall length of the drum core between the flanges may be maintained substantially constant, and the control zone of the cable winding may be maintained at a pre-determined point of the circumference of the drum to assure an even and balanced cable spooling.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts as heretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawings, it being understood that any modification in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A cylindrical drum for spooling multiple layers of cable comprising a core portion having flange members provided on the opposite ends thereof, means providing for a combined parallel and helical spooling of the cable on the outer periphery of the core and extending substantially throughout the distance between the flanges for receiving the cable, said drum core having a circumferential groove provided at each end thereof adjacent the flange members, segmental annular plate means disposed in said circumferential grooves and removably secured to the inwardly directed faces of the respective flange members for precluding contact of the spooled cable therewith and independently removable from said flange members for replacement, and means for effecting a cross over movement for each of the multiple layers of cable during the spooling operation.

2'. A cylindrical drum for spooling multiple layers of,

cable and comprising a circular drum core portion having flange members provided on the opposite ends thereof, a continuous groove provided on the outer periphery of the drum core and extending substantially throughout the distance between the flanges for receiving the cable, said drum core having a circumferential groove provided at each end thereof adjacent the drum flanges, and segmental annular plate means disposed in the last mentioned grooves and removably secured to the respective flange members for maintaining the cable out of contact with the dan e members, said means independently removable from said flange members.

3. A cylindrical drum core for spooling multiple layers of cable and having flange members provided on the opposite ends thereof, means providing for a combined parallel and helical spooling of the cable on the outer periphery of the core and extending substantially throughout the distance between the flanges, said. drum core having a circumferential groove provided at each end thereof adjacent the drum flanges, a pair of semi-circular plate members disposed in each circumferential groove and removably secured to the inwardly directed face of each flange member for precluding contact of the spooled cable with the flanges, said plate members being independently removable from the flanges, and an arcuately shaped control bar member provided adjacent the inner face of each of the plate members for efifecting a progressive cross over movement for each of the multiple layers of cable upon reversal of each layer of cable at the respective plate member during the spooling operation.

4., A cylindrical drum core for spooling multiple layers of cable thereon and having flange members provided on the opposite ends thereof, a combined parallel and helical continuous groove provided on the outer periphery of the drum core for receiving said cable, the said groove extending substantially throughout the length of the drum core between the flange members, said drum core having a circumferential groove provided at each end thereof adjacent the drum flanges, segmental annular plate means disposed in each circumferential groove and removably secured to the inner face of each flange member for protection of the flanges, each of said plate means being independently removable from said drum flanges, and control bar members disposed adjacent the inner face of each plate means for effecting a cross over movement of the super-imposed multiple layers of cable at the beginning of each layer of cable during the spooling operation.

References (Jited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,265,110 Prentiss May 7, 1918 1,473,410 Tuttle Nov. 6, 1923 1,927,673 Allen Sept. 19, 1933 2,218,742 Butler Oct. 22, 1940 2,323,800 Curtiss luly 6, 1943 2,435,086 Lack Ian. 27, 1948 2,734,695 Le Bus Feb. 14, 1956 OTHER REFERENCES Le Bus Grooving and Controlled Pyramid Wire Line Spooling System, Form No. LL-HB-ll52, published by Le Bus International Engineers, Ltd, first ed, November 1952. 

1. A CYLINDRICAL DRUM FOR SPOOLING MULTIPLE LAYERS OF CABLE COMPRISING A CORE PORTION HAVING FLANGE MEMBERS PROVIDED ON THE OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF, MEANS PROVIDING FOR A COMBINED PARALLEL AND HELICAL SPOOLING OF THE CABLE ON THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF THE CORE AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY THROUGHOUT THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE FLANGES FOR RECEIVING THE CABLE, SAID DRUM CORE HAVING A CIRCUMFERENTIAL GROOVE PROVIDED AT EACH END THEREOF ADJACENT THE FLANGE MEMBERS, SEGMENTAL ANNULAR PLATE MEANS DISPOSED IN SAID CIRCUMFERENTIAL GROOVES AND REMOVABLY SECURED TO THE INWARDLY DIRECTED FACES OF THE RESPECTIVE FLANGE MEMBERS FOR PRECLUDING CONTACT OF THE SPOOLED CABLE THEREWITH AND INDEPENDENTLY REMOVABLE FROM SAID FLANGE MEMBERS FOR REPLACEMENT, AND MEANS FOR EFFECTING A CROSS OVER MOVEMENT FOR EACH OF THE MULTIPLE LAYERS OF CABLE DURING THE SPOOLING OPERATION. 